MAHO--The St. Maarten Lions Club celebrated its 45th anniversary with a dinner at Moomba Restaurant at Sonesta Maho Resort Saturday evening for club members, spouses and Prime Minister William Marlin, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Silveria Jacobs, District 60B Governor Lion Marvin Grant and Region 2 Zone 2B Chairman Merlyn Schaminee.
Under the theme “Remembering our Lions with Pride” Club President Eldert Louisa thanked all 39 club presidents who had served before him. Some of them had served two terms as President.
The evening was very special, as the Club’s last remaining charter member, Lion Frank Arnell, was present at the dinner. Lion Frank along with 21 other men chartered the club on December 12, 1970. The sponsoring club back then was the Lions Club of Bonaire, although the process was started by the Lions Club of Curaçao.
The Club chose to honour Lion Frank Arnell with a Progressive Melvin Jones Award for his years of service and for being the last charter member of the club. “I am totally surprised of this wonderful honour that the St. Maarten Lions Club has bestowed on me,” said Lion Frank.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship is the highest form of recognition a Lion can receive for charitable work.
Another special guest who was present at the dinner was Past President Lion Cyril Hazel, who served as head of the club in 1981-82. He shared some old-time stories from when he served as a member of the Club before he became ill and could not serve any longer.
The celebration of the 45th anniversary concluded with stories from Past District Governors Lion Wally Havertong, Lion Maxime Larmonie and Lion Frank Arnell, and formal recognition by Prime Minister William Marlin and Lions District Governor Marvin Grant who flew in from Tortola especially for the 45th anniversary celebration.
